Anne Waldman has been a presence in the American literary scene since the 1960’s. As well as being the author of over forty books, she was has been a Guggenheim Fellow and is a Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets. In 1968 she established the St. Marks Poetry Project in New York City, which continues to be important venue for American poets. Along with Allen Ginsberg she founded, in 1974, the Jack Kerouac School of Disembodied Poetics at the Naropa Institute in Boulder, Colorado. The Jack Kerouac School continues to be one of the most important creative writing programs in the country today. Throughout her career she has collaborated with artists and musicians including Bob Dylan, Thurston Moore, John Cage, and Meredith Monk. She annually curates dozens of diverse voices from around the globe to present their work and teach in the JK Summer Writing Program. Her latest book, Trickster Feminism, was released in 2018 and has garnered wide praise. https://hyperallergic.com/453801/anne-waldman-trickster-feminism-penguin-poets-books-2018/ . Her connections to Texas writers began in the 80s with Dallas based Paris Records and her Texas students and peers continue to provide a cross-pollinating network of influence on emerging writers in Dallas. Allen Ginsburg perhaps best captures the spirit of Anne Waldman. “I like Anne Waldman best of all the women poets because she swings most and orates most and sings most…She also gets up like a dancing skeleton and makes wind through her bones!…She has affairs with books. She writes, publishes, copulates and gives birth to books. She teaches her apprentices to listen like Plato…She has affairs with sapphires, emeralds, amber, and rubies. She knocks me out. She thrills my bones. She is Anne Waldman.”

Ambrose Bye is a jazz musician and producer, owner of Fast Speaking Music. He teaches studio recording at Naropa University’s Summer Writing Program and has produced nearly fifty spoken word and jazz recordings. He has toured the world extensively as musical accompaniment to Waldman and numerous others.

The Expo Park Crawl starts at 8 Bells with the Mad Swirl! The legendary open mic series started in 2004 has meta sized into one of the most prominent in Dallas. The Swirl has fostered a deep community of exceptional talents in its First Wednesday progarms and is a touchstone of the Dallas open mic scene. For the Expo Park Crawl they will be presenting MH Clay, Johnny Olson, Vic Victory, Carlos Salas, Tamitha Curiel, Chris Zimmerly, Brett BA Ardoin and Chris Curiel.

Next, head over to Craft and Growler for performances by Clancy Manuel and Annie Benjamin. Fort Worth based musician Clancy Manuel creates soundscape songs that mirror her guitar explorations. Known for her art house performances, her music is both intimate and experimental and innovative. Annie Benjamin is a celebrated Dallas singer songwriter who is a past winner of the B.W.Stevenson songwriting contest. She has performed at Poor David’s Pub, Uncle Calvins Coffee House and Opening Bell. Her songs are winsome and engaging and mirror her charm and charisma.

After, walk over to Las Almas Rotas for Tejana Cosmica with Opalina Salas, Tamitha Curiel, Amy Zapien and Priscilla Rice. Poet Laureate of Oak Cliff, Opalina Salas is a tireless advocate of spoken word. She is founder of the Poets on X+ Series and an accomplished writer and performer. Tamitha Curiel is a writer, actor, and educator. She is host of the Pleasant Groove Poetry Series and a member of the experimental sound band Swirve. Amy Zapien experiments with visual and performing arts and rituals. She has exhibited at Lawndale Art Center, the Oak Cliff Cultural Center and Casa de Locos. Priscilla Rice is a poet, actor and storyteller. She has appeared in several noteworthy theatrical productions and she is co-founder with B.Randall of the Verse and Rhythm Poetry Series.

Finally, make it over to Sandaga for the Lit Hop headliners Anne Waldman and Ambrose Bye!